The Story

Whitney Wolfe Herd is the founder and CEO of Bumble, a popular dating app that puts women in control by allowing them to make the first move. Her journey to success is one of determination, innovation, and a commitment to empowering women.

Whitney was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1989. She attended Southern Methodist University in Texas, where she majored in international studies. While still in college, Whitney interned at Hatch Labs, a startup incubator owned by IAC. It was there that she met Sean Rad, the co-founder of Tinder, a popular dating app.

After graduating from college, Whitney worked for Rad at Tinder, where she served as the Vice President of Marketing. She helped launch the app and was instrumental in its early success. However, her time at Tinder was cut short when she left the company due to a dispute with the co-founders.

Determined to make a difference in the dating app industry, Whitney launched Bumble in 2014. The app was designed to empower women by giving them control over the dating process. Unlike other dating apps, Bumble required women to make the first move, sending a message to a potential match within 24 hours of matching. The app quickly gained popularity, with millions of users signing up in the first few months.

Whitney's commitment to empowering women didn't stop with the launch of Bumble. She also created Bumble BFF, a feature that allows users to find friends and build meaningful relationships. She later added Bumble Bizz, a networking platform that connects professionals with each other.

In 2021, Whitney took Bumble public, becoming the youngest female CEO to take a company public in the United States. Her company is now valued at over $8 billion, and she has been named one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World.

Whitney's success is a testament to her innovative spirit, determination, and commitment to empowering women. She has shown that with hard work and a willingness to take risks, anyone can achieve their dreams.

Lessons from Whitney

1. Embrace innovation: Whitney Wolfe Herd's success with Bumble came from her ability to innovate and disrupt the dating app industry. She recognized a gap in the market and developed a unique approach to solving the problem.

2. Believe in your vision: Whitney's commitment to empowering women through Bumble was unwavering. She believed in her vision and was willing to take risks to achieve it, even in the face of adversity.

3. Surround yourself with a strong team: Whitney recognized the importance of having a strong team to support her vision. She built a team of experts in marketing, technology, and business development to help bring her vision to life.

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